Description
Heidi Berry – Below The Waves – Cassette
Below The Waves is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Heidi Berry, released in 1993. The album showcases Berry’s captivating vocals and introspective songwriting, blending elements of folk, pop, and alternative rock.
Heidi Berry’s music is characterized by her emotive and haunting voice, which draws listeners into her introspective and often melancholic world. “Below The Waves” reflects her ability to create intimate and introspective songs that resonate with a sense of emotional depth.
After the generally good vibes of Firefly, the starker performances on Below the Waves must have come as a surprise to many of Heidi Berry’s fans. Without changing her excellent singing in the slightest, Berry and her arranger, Christian Lunch, replaced the light folk-rock of Firefly with a more ambient and, often times, quite haunting backing.
Brother Christopher Berry’s fine acoustic guitar work stays at the center, but stripped of the band, both it and her vocals stand out with a gorgeous clarity, accentuated by a soft layer of reverb applied throughout the disc. Her lyrics are much clearer as well; her calm detailing of “blood on your hands” in “Little Tragedy” could easily have been lost in the mix had the song been performed on Firefly.
Not everything is sonically downbeat, sprightly guitar helps add a slight musical jauntiness to “Riversong”, but generally, though, Below emphasizes ruminative lyrics and calm music. The title track is especially fascinating, with a low rumble of sound beginning and ending the song on a slightly disturbing note. Violin and cello appear on a number of songs, deepening the melancholy and sorrowful undertow of many of them. By no means, however, is the record a specifically sad one.
If anything, Berry seeks to bring out a careful reflection through her music, as on the lengthy, powerful “Northshore Train,” with such slice-of-life observations as “the electric towers stand in line on water’s edge.” A number of tracks favor keyboards or pianos instead of guitar, often to grand effect: The slow combination of organ swells and bass notes on “Gather All the Hours” creates a lovely bed for Berry’s singing. Ending with the elegant “Dancer,” Below is an underrated treasure.
The album features a mix of acoustic-based tracks and more atmospheric, layered compositions. Berry’s evocative lyrics touch upon themes of love, loss, and personal reflection. Her delicate melodies and the subtle instrumentation enhance the emotional impact of the songs.
Standout tracks from “Below The Waves” include “Below The Waves,” “Out of My Hands,” and “Hasten the Buds to Bloom.” These songs exemplify Berry’s ability to convey a sense of vulnerability and beauty through her music.
Below The Waves received critical acclaim upon its release, with praise for Berry’s captivating vocals, introspective songwriting, and the atmospheric production. The album showcases her unique artistic vision and her ability to create a deeply moving and immersive listening experience.
For fans of folk-infused singer-songwriter music, “Heidi Berry – Below The Waves” is a compelling and introspective album. It represents a significant release in Berry’s discography and reflects her talent as a singer and songwriter.
Rockville Records
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Ribbons
Below the Waves
Little Tragedy
Legacy
Northshore Train
Gather All the Hours
Riversong
All for You
Living Memory
Dancer
Out of My Hands
Firefly
Nobody Tells on You
Will It All Change
Houses Made of Wood
Hasten the Buds to Bloom
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